Magnetic stop motion device

ABSTRACT

A feeler arm for textile thread which activates a stop motion device by magnetic means. The magnets operatively engage with a lever arm of a microswitch. The magnetic means may constitute a two magnet or a three magnet system and by proper proportioning will achieve the required rotating torque and axial movement to actuate the microswitch and thereby stop the yarn delivery system.

United States Patent Csurgay 1 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] MAGNETIC STOP MOTION DEVICE 3,330,016 7/1967 Smith et al ..200/6l.l8 X 3,397,372 8/1968 Maxwell ..335/206 X F L [72] Invent gg Csurgay auderdale 3,234,341 2/1966 Jurczyk ..200/47 2,566,824 9/1951 Carlson ..200/47 [73] Assignee: U.S. Textile Machine Company,

Scranton, Pa. Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant ExaminerM. Ginsburg [22] Flled' Apnl 1971 Attorney-Nolte and Nolte [21] Appl. No.2 139,173

[57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl ..200/61.18, 335/207 A feeler arm for textile thread which activates a p 51 Int. Cl. ..LB65h 25/14 motion device y magnetic means- The magnets [58] Field of Search 200/6113 6L1 8, 153 T 47; operatively engage with a lever arm Of a microswitch. The magnetic means may constitute a tWO magnet 01' a three magnet system and by proper proportioning will achieve the required rotating torque and axial move- [56] References cued ment to actuate the microswitch and thereby stop the UNrrED STATES PATENTS y delivery syst 3,170,052 2/1965 Hajos ..200/61.4l X 2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures minnow 5 m2 3589716 INVENTOR ATTO R N EYE PATENTEDSEP m 3.689.716

sum 2 or 2 mvzgyon fer om sue m B m rm ATT RNEYS MAGNETIC STOP MOTION DEVICE This invention relates to a stop motion device for textile yarns which utilizes magnets for activating a microswitch to thereby shut ofi yarn delivery to the mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a threadbreak sensor for threads which are under tension and which by the proper selection of magnets, soft steel ring, as well as the proper distances between the magnets and the steel ring, any combination of rotating torque and pull-in force can be achieved.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a threadbreak sensor or magnetic stop motion device in which the reaction time is very short, and thus the mechanism is stopped almost immediately, avoiding serious problems with the same.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a three magnet system in which one of the magnets is adjustable. Thus, the torque produced by the magnets is adjustable by changing the distance between the magnets.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic stop motion device based on the two magnet system in which one of the magnets is provided with a shaft that is adapted to move back and forth and thereby make and break contact with the microswitch. The magnets are so constructed and arranged that rotating torque, as well as a push and pull effect is achieved.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide magnetic discs instead of magnetic bars.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic stop motion device which is small and compact and can be used in groups on machines that process a multiplicity of threads.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stop motion device which is inexpensive to manufacture yet is reliably effective for the purposes intended.

The invention will now be further described by detailed reference to specific embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic stop motion device for yearn processing machine constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of the magnetic stop motion device showing the microswitch lever arm depressed;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the magnetic stop motion device showing the relative position of the thread supporting arm sown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another partial side elevational view of the magnetic stop motion device similar to FIG. 2 in which the microswitch lever arm is not depressed;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 4, partly in section, showing the relative position of thread supporting arm illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional and partial elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the lever arm of the microswitch has depressed the microswitch;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 in which the lever arm has not depressed the microswitch, and the thread supporting arm is in another position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, and especially to FIGS. 1-6 thereof, a yarn processing machine (not shown) may have a series of magnetic stop motion devices of the type shown in FIGS. l-6. The stop motion device comprises a frame 10 having a U-shaped subframe 10a. Mounted on the frame 10 is a conventional microswitch 12 having an actuator button 14. The microswitch 12 is also provided with a pivoting actuator lever arm 16.

Rotatable and slidable in the bushings 18 and 20 of subframe 10a is a shaft 22. Secured to one leg of the subframe 10a is a magnet 24, having poles as illustrated. It will be noted that the shaft 22 passes freely through magnet 24 as well as bushings l8 and 20 of the subframe 10a. Secured to the shaft 22 and spaced from the magnet 24 is another magnet 26 with poles as indicated. Magnet 26 is mounted to both rotate and move axially toward and away from magnet 24. In addition, magnet 24 is provided with a stop member 28 forming a sleeve on the shaft 22.

As seen in FIGS. 1-5, one end of shaft 22 is provided with a laterally projecting thread supporting arm 30. This arm has a lateral extension 30a which engages the tensioned yarn. When the tensioned yarn exerting a minute force holds arm 30 in a down position, which is shown in FIG. 5 and designated by X, magnet 26 is held in a position where like poles substantially face each other or at least are in nearer vicinity than unlike poles. This said position X of magnet 26 results in an axial repelling force which acts between magnets 26 and 24. Magnet 24 being anchored to subframe 10a and magnet 26 being anchored to freely rotatable and slidable shaft 22, this shaft will move axially in the direction away from magnet 24 and from switch actuator lever arm 16. This maintains closed position of the contacts of switch 10 and allows current to flow to the yarn processing machine.

While magnet 26 is held in its above mentioned position X, there is also maintained a rotating torque or pair of torque forces, which torque or pair of forces tend to rotate magnet 26 back into its natural position wherein unlike poles are facing each other and the distance between them is the shortest possible distance allowed by stop member 28.

When the yarn breaks, the magnet 26 will rotate relative to magnet 24, due to said magnetic torque, thereby turning the thread supporting arm 30 and swinging it upwardly. When the rotation of the magnet 26 has reached such point that the opposite poles of magnets 24 and 26 are aligned, the magnet 26 is attracted toward the magnet 24 and closes the gap a, shown in FIG. 4 to the reduced gap b, illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the yarn supporting arm 30 moves from the position X shown in FIG. 5 to the position Y shown in FIG. 3. In this position Y, the pivoting actuating lever arm 16 is depressed and, consequently, the button 14 of the microswitch is also depressed, thereby opening the electrical circuit of the yarn processing machine. In the resulting position of the microswitch shown in FIG. 2, the switch has been activated in a manner to open the electrical circuit of the yarn processing machine and therefore render said machine inoperative.

As seen in FIG. 6, the magnet 24 is fixed to the subframe 10a by means of an adhesive 32. On the other hand, the magnet 26 is secured to the shaft 22 by means of fixed sleeve 34.

FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose a further embodiment of the present invention incorporating three magnets, 44, 46 and 48 respectively. The aforesaid magnets are mounted in a frame 50 which is provided with guides 52 and 54 for the adjustable magnet 48. The adjustability of magnet 48 is accomplished by means of screw 56 rotatable in tapped hole 58 in the frame 50 and secured at one end to the magnet 48. The screw 56 is provided with a knurled knob 60 which can be turned in order to move the magnet axially within the guides 52 and 54 in a direction toward or away from magnet 46. Magnet 46 is further provided with a thread supporting arm 30 and magnet 44 is secured to the pivoting actuating lever arm 16 of the microswitch 12. In the relative positions of the magnets 44, 46 and 48, as shown in FIG. 8, there is magnetic torque acting on magnet 46 and said torque is tending to rotate magnet 46 into position shown in FIG. 8. In the position of FIG. 7 lever 16 is moved toward magnet 46 by means of magnetic attraction from magnet 44. Switch actuator button 14 is depressed and current through switch 12 is interrupted. Thread supporting arm 30 is magnetically moved to the position shown in FIG. 7 for lack of yarn force to hold it as shown in FIG. 8. The arrangement shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 is desirable if the tension on the yarn is very light, for example in order of gms. In that case, the magnet 48 is moved away from the magnet 46 by means of screw 56, thereby reducing the possibility of the magnetic force overcoming the force of the yarn tension on the arm 30. That condition results in the rotation of the magnet 46 to a position whereby the microswitch 12 is actuated without the yarn being broken.

It is to be noted that the present device is small and compact and therefore a multiplicity of these devices may be used on yarn processing machines for each of the yarns. This arrangement results in an effective magnetic stop motion device arrangement for the machine.

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic stop motion device for a yarn processing machine comprising a switch, at least two spaced magnets, means mounting said magnets whereby one of said magnets is rotatable and axially movable with respect to the other magnet, said one magnet being provided with a shaft that passes through the other of said magnets, one end of said shaft being inoperative engagement with said switch, a thread supporting arm on said shaft being held by yarn tension at a location whereby said magnets repulse each other and said one magnet having said shaft is thereby axially moved away from the other magnet to a position in which said switch closes the electrical circuit of said yarn processing machine, and when said yarn breaks said arm and said one magnet rotate to a position whereby said magnets attract each other and thereupon axially move said shaft to operate said switch and open the electrical circuit of the yarn processing machine.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a mounting for said magnets in the form of a frame, said one of the magnets being rigidly fixed to said shaft and mounted in said frame, said thread s2 porting arm being mounted on one end of said sh t,

the other end of the shaft passing through the other of said magnets and said frame and axially movable to operatively engage said switch. 

1. A magnetic stop motion device for a yarn processing machine comprising a switch, at least two spaced magnets, means mounting said magnets whereby one of said magnets is rotatable and axially movable with respect to the other magnet, said one magnet being provided with a shaft that passes through the other of said magnets, one end of said shaft being inoperative engagement with said switch, a thread supporting arm on said shaft being held by yarn tension at a location whereby said magnets repulse each other and said one magnet having said shaft is thereby axially moved away from the other magnet to a position in which said switch closes the electrical circuit of said yarn processing machine, and when said yarn breaks said arm and said one magnet rotate to a position whereby said magnets attract each other and thereupon axially move said shaft to operate said switch and open the electrical circuit of the yarn processing machine.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a mounting for said magnets in the form of a frame, said one of the magnets being rigidly fixed to said shaft and mounted in said frame, said thread supporting arm being mounted on one end of said shaft, the other end of the shaft passing through the other of said magnets and said frame and axially movable to operatively engage said switch. 